Nowak, Midtsundstad, Rettenegger & Skoglund win first Youth Cup day

Exciting racing was taking place on the first day of the FIS Youth Cup finals in Trondheim and the first winners are Jenny Nowak (GER), Hanna Midtsundstad (NOR), Stefan Rettenegger (AUT) and Aleksander Skoglund (NOR).

Germany’s Jenny Nowak continued her domination of the Youth I category of the ladies. The yellow bib bearer jumped to the second place with 62 metres, the same distance as jumping winner Thea Minyan Bjørseth. Austria’s Lisa Hirner captured the intermediate third position with 61 metres.

In the race, Nowak proved to be too strong for the one year younger Bjørseth. The German even fought with Youth II leader Hanna Midtsundstad for a while. In the end, it was 28 seconds that separated Nowak from runner-.up Lisa Hirner. Triinu Hausenberg (EST) fought Hirner until the end but had to concede defeat at also +0:28 seconds. Bjørseth finished fourth, just one second behind.

Hanna Midtsundstad had a perfect day in the Youth II category. 62 metres meant a clear lead for the Norwegian and even though hindered by a crash on the first of the two 1.5 km laps, she skied a dominant race, finishing one minute ahead of USA’s Gabriella Armstrong. Armstrong was the fastest skier on the track, however and improved from position seven to two. Germany’s Sophia Maurus finished third, +1:35 after the winner, the unlucky fourth position went to Japan’s Yura Murakami.

Austria’s Stefan Rettenegger returned to the Youth Cup with a very strong performance in the Youth I category. Ranking third after the jumping event (64.5 m), Rettenegger crossed the finish line first in his category and only behind Youth II winner Aleksander Skoglund. Norwegian jumping winner Sebastian Østvold (65,5 m) came in second, +0:14 behind Rettenegger. The third place went to Finland’s Waltteri Karhumaa.

Aleksander Skoglund made it a home victory for Norway in the Youth II category, storming from the intermediate fourth position to a clear victory. He finished 47 seconds ahead of Czech Republic’s David Zemek. Teammate Simen Kvarstad completed a good Norwegian result on rank 3, +0:50 seconds behind Skoglund.

A final Ind. Gundersen event will be held tomorrow.